Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) will invest US$ 1billion in mine infrastructure development by 2012.
MCM chief executive officer Emmanuel Mutati said this in Kitwe today when he briefed the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Kanni Wignaraja at general offices during her familiarization tour.
He said with this investment, the mine will expand its mine operations for another 25 years and increase job creation prospects in the country.
ZANIS reports that the mining conglomerate has since invested US$1.2 billion in infrastructure development at its two mine sites in Mufulira and Nkana since it started operations in the country
Mr. Mutati also stated the mining industry in the country is under capitalized, a situation that has made mine operations not to be high.
He said mine operations in the country are still not up to international standards because they depend on a huge labour force to do mine works other than technology.
He said this has affected levels of production.
The MCM CEO said the mining industry has run short of specialized technical staff to sustain mining operations.
He said since the turning of the Zambia Institute of Technology into the Copperbelt University, the mining industry has suffered a set back in terms of technological experts such as surveyors, ventilators and engineers who supported the industry.
He said the problem was compounded by the opening of Kansanshi and Lumwana mine in North western province where the industry on the Copperbelt has to share the limited number of technocrats.
Mutati said it was a big challenge for the mining companies who have now engaged the Chamber of Mines to discuss how the issue can be addressed.
And Ms. Wignaraja expressed happiness that the mine has taken interest in the social corporate responsibility especially on environmental concerns.
She said there are concerns over the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 in areas where Zambia was lagging behind.
She said her organisation was looking at specific district interventions in education, health and environment sectors that can drive towards achieving MDGs by 2015.
She said through public private partnership local initiatives can be supported by the local development fund that will foster the attainment of the MDGs.
Ms. Wignaraja also toured the district health management board offices, Mindolo mine shaft and Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation.
ZANIS
Shortage of Technocrats?
Imwe baMutati muleba bwino. You underpaid Zambians in the mining industry and you let them go for greener pastures in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa as well as Australia and New Zealand and you complain about ‘shortage.’ The world is now a global village and the highest bidder takes all. Zambians felt indebted to work for ZCCM because it contributed to their training, but now, the new investors want to reap cheply where they did not sow. Pay competitively and Zambian Technocrats will return home.
Well said No. 1…
Mutati is one of the guys who have come from ZCCM era to the current status. He understood well the philosophy ZCCM used to raise skills levels in the industry. But they are not interested to do the same, besides they even pay for specialised skills less than market value, shame on them!! Time for cheap labour is gone, “the highest bidder takes all”.
Times have changed, the new generation does not stick around for less pay till retirement like the old generation did!! Welcome to the global village.
The saint and Big D, I agree we do not have adequate technical staff. Which institution trains mining experts apart from UNZA which offers a degree which is actually surported by the mines. And if you want to talk about the global village then you should also expect to see the Indians and Chinese who tend to have lower wages comng in the country to get jobs
The mines need people traind in modern mining methods and even artisans.
You are spot on #1 and #2. As an ex-ZCCM miner, I want to echo that indeed times have changed. Whereas we mostly used to only complain and advocate for ‘Equal pay for Equal work’, but still stick around, not now.
Its unfortunate that the Chamber of Mines has been more reactive than proactive on the way forward all this time.
500,000Kwacha for Zambian miner per month.(basic skills) = $125 dollars per month
7200 dollars for Australian miner per month.(basic skills) = 32.4 million kwacha per month
Who is paid correctly?